Thursday, February 10, 2011

GENERATION GAP?

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY 2011

It doesn't take long for a new generation of people to become mystified with the actions and artifacts of those who came before. Here's a neat little promotional item given out in 1952 to its customers by a company in Glendale that was involved in the moving and hauling business. Evidently, with its fleet of trucks and moving crews, it could take on big tasks like loading railroad cars or smaller ones like storage and crating.

I read the cartoon on this item, several times and continue to miss the point. If you can figure that the cartoonist meant, let me know. This promotional item is printed on the front of highly absorbent paper --- it's a "blotter." Yep, an ink blotter was still of enough value in 1952 to end up on a customer's desk.

Try this little experiment. Ask any elementary school child who you know, if he or she knows what an ink blotter is?

Promotional ink blotter - V. L. Bunch Co. Glendale, California - gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011. (Click on blotter image to enlarge)